Odisha – A Cultural Journey
Odisha (formerly known as Orissa) conjures images of grandeur of ancient Kalinga and the war that transformed Emperor Ashoka towards the path of peace. An underrated travel destination, the state has an amazing mix of history, religion, the beaches, natural beauty with lush forests and lakes, and rich tribal culture. An amazing place for an offbeat traveler to explore the unexplored.
Overview
Experience
Odisha has many places to visit and many things to do depending on what your interests could be. It is the home to 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, One of the most holiest Hindu temples in India. If you go further down the coast you will find Konark, which is the site of the ruins of the 13th-century Sun Temple, an example of the region’s ancient Kalinga architecture. Odisha is also known for its beaches at Puri, Balighai and elsewhere. Other natural attractions include the mangroves at Bhitarkanika National Park, the bird sanctuary at brackish Chilika Lake and Simlipal National Park’s tiger reserve and waterfalls. In many of these lush and thick forests is the rich tribal culture that co-exists symbiotically with its natural habitat.
The state is also known for its rich art and craft tradition. North of Puri, you will find the crafts village at Raghurajpur, which offers visitors traditional Oriya paintings and tribal handicraft. And this is where we will start our journey into this cultural maze of Odisha.
Itinerary
AN ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Stay at an idyllic village called Raghurajpur in Odisha and learn its ancient art form from the local Pattachitra artists themselves. In this village, it is believed that worship and art are one — each breathes life and gives meaning to the other. This unique program is designed to highlight the relationship between art and other keys aspects of our lives such as culture, emotion and history. It aims to educate students with the basic skill set required to create their own Pattachitra artworks and enlighten them about the local culture. In addition to this, students interested in learning ‘Gotipua’, an ancient dance form, can do so by sparing time for daily practice. Immerse your creative self in a unique experience, to learn the ancient art of traditional cloth based scroll painting, in a place where it was originated. Enthusiasts willing to learn ancient Gotipua dance can take out an extra hour from their free time for daily practice.
DAY 1
Start your holiday with a village tour. Come back and learn the basics of Patta Chitra.
DAY 2
Workshop by artisans on mixing and making natural colours for the painting.
DAY 3
Get your hands dirty today as you make toys with Paper Mache and Cow dung. Sit back and enjoy a cultural dance performance in the evening.
DAY 4
Indulge in the art of painting Palm leaves and the famous Tusser Silk.
DAY 5
Visit Sun temple, Konark and Chilka Lake then watch the sun go down at Puri beach.
DAY 6
You can also choose to volunteer to teach children at a school nearby, or hone your Patta Chitra skills one more time before leaving.
Share with Friends